1999 Mayacamas Cabernet Sauvignon. Excellent color and richness-at 12.5% abv nominal label alcohol. Dark in color with great structure-tannins still present but not dominant. A mix of black fruit (cassis, blackberry, plum) balanced with fantastic acidity and a hint of earthyness. Good acidity. Simply an amazingly balanaced Napa Cabernet. Delicious and WOTN for many of us.
2001 VESA S.E.N.A Cabernet Sauvignon Chile. A pleasant surprise, given how awful my last high end Chilean Cab (Domus Aurea) was. There is just a whisper of the Chilean "mint" but hidden way back. Deliciously rich in flavor, with plum, chocolate, blackberry, and cassis flavors. Not as structured as the Mayacamas, but delicious as a soft, rich wine. Only 13.5% nominal abv Would buy again if I can find it. A Robert Mondavis project.
1998 Freemark Abbey Bosche Cabernet Sauvignon. Definitely some green like the last bottle I tried. However, the green is balanaced and actually refreshing here. Plenty of ripe black fruit to complement the colder year character of the 1998. Not as much acidity, however, as some other good examples of 1998 Cabernets (Heitz Trailside, Robert Sinskey RSV,,etc.) What stood out about this wine, however, was the silky, silky smoothness and the lonnnnnggg finish. A sipping wine/cocktail wine.
1999 Chateau Deyrim Valentin Margaux Cru Bourgeois. A blast of big, high acid berry fruit when first opened and poured into the decanter. Less giving two hours later at the party-this may be in a somewhat closed phase???? Still...100% earthy, savory Bordeaux. This is not unpleasantly tannic, though-the tannins seem somewhat resolved. Some good black cassis and plum flavors witht hen earthyness. I really like the more restrained style of Bordeaux, and this seems to be a good basic claret.